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Dordt students gain online teaching experience at Alpha Omega Academy
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11/7/2013
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To obtain experience in online education, five students from Dordt
College are participating in online student teaching internships this
semester at Alpha Omega Academy (AOA), an accredited distance learning
school for K\_12 students in more than 40 countries.
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Dordt students include secondary education and history major Ben Sytsma
of Jenison, Michigan; elementary education major Natalie Lock of Sheboygan,
Wisconsin; secondary education and English/language arts major Jahn
Kuiper of Sioux Center; elementary education major Lindsay Hakes of
Milaca, Minnesota; and secondary education and social science major
Austin Van Staalduinen of Pantego, North Carolina.
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Headquartered in Rock Rapids, Iowa, AOA is a virtual academy that
serves as a hybrid between traditional schooling and homeschooling.
Now in its third year, the internship program pairs Dordt students
with AOA teachers who mentor interns throughout their student teaching
experience.
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\uc1\u8220?This internship program has great benefits for both Alpha
Omega Academy and the interns,\uc1\u8221? said Joseph Bakker, the
principal of Alpha Omega Academy and a 2007 graduate of Dordt College.
\uc1\u8220?It helps AOA by providing extra resources for students
and additional help with curriculum improvement projects. It also
allows the interns to learn about Christian distance education.\uc1\u8221?
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Dr. Timothy Van Soelen, associate professor of education at Dordt
College, sees the AOA internship as a way to expose his students to
a fairly new branch of education.
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\uc1\u8220?Educational delivery systems are changing at a very rapid
rate,\uc1\u8221? Van Soelen said. \uc1\u8220?The opportunity to participate
in a high\_quality system like AOA on Dordt\uc1\u8217?s campus is
fantastic.\uc1\u8221?
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When the program began, student teachers commuted to AOA\uc1\u8217?s
office in Rock Rapids. This fall, the interns can gain practical,
online teaching experience by working from Dordt\uc1\u8217?s campus.
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Sytsma began interning last March and recently made the transition
from working in Rock Rapids to teaching from Dordt.\line
\uc1\u8220?Whether you work from campus or in Rock Rapids, this experience
will help you grow in your teaching ability and your teaching philosophy,\uc1\u8221?
Sytsma said.
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The responsibilities of student teacher interns include teaching online
classes, grading coursework, and working directly with students. Sytsma
says that fulfilling these roles in an online setting has enhanced
his ability to connect with and challenge students through well\_planned
lessons and stimulating questions.
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\uc1\u8220?Through my teaching at AOA, I have definitely gained confidence,
and I have gained classroom management skills, which statistically
are the toughest parts of teaching for new teachers,\uc1\u8221? Sytsma
said.
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A total of 10 Dordt students have participated as AOA interns since
the program began two years ago. Van Soelen said he looks forward
to continued collaboration as his students have consistently expressed
positive feedback about the internship program.
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\uc1\u8220?I would recommend this experience to all of our education
majors,\uc1\u8221? Van Soelen said. \uc1\u8220?We don\uc1\u8217?t
know how or where God is going to use their gifts of teaching. This
experience opens up another avenue for students to explore.\uc1\u8221?
\par}
}